Electrical contact

Abstract

A solid state, multi-use electrochemical sensor having an electrically nonconductive substrate, a working electrode, and a semi-permeable membrane covering the working electrode. The working electrode includes an electrically conductive material adhered to a portion of the substrate. A first portion of the conductive material is covered with an electrically insulating dielectric coating, and a second portion of the conductive material is covered with an active layer. The active layer includes a catalytically active quantity of an enzyme carried by platinized carbon powder particles, which are distributed throughout the active layer. A sensor package for incorporating a sensor is provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In an electrochemical sensor mounted in a housing and having a plurality of electrical contacts spaced close to each other, and a plurality of elongated axially extending electrically conductive leads with individual leads connected to said contacts, the improvement comprising: said leads being spaced apart out of electrical contact with each other by a stabilizer bar attached to said leads and which stabilizer bar positively positions said leads in proper position to electrically contact said electrical contacts,   said stabilizer bar being supported on said housing to provide for said electrical contact.   
     
     
       2. The electrochemical sensor of claim 1, wherein said leads are resilient and are urged into aligned contact with said contacts by said stabilizer bar, said leads further defining contact surfaces interconnected by said leads with said plurality of electrical contacts.   
     
     
       3. The electrochemical sensor of claim 2, wherein said leads are attached to a lead frame base which provides a contact area for connection of said contact surfaces to an electrical testing system, said leads being resiliently bent back to provide for compact spacing and being maintained in position between ends of said leads, by said spacer bar mounted in a preformed recess in said housing.   
     
     
       4. The electrochemical sensor of claim 3, wherein said lead frame base mounts a plurality of electrodes and forms a part of said housing, said leads comprising spring tips being attached to said contacts.